There has been little integration so far between biodiversity policies and bioeconomy strategies. For the most part, these end up being two distinct fields, with little conversation between them. That
From the IFA led debacle at Bord Bia to Trump’s pathetic rollback on climate science, and this Government’s failure to publish the Land use Review and the 2026 Climate Action
“A nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself” was the pertinent line in US President Franklin D Roosevelt’s letter to state governors in 1937… Apparently, a growing world population is
We’re a long way from the locally grown, nutrient-dense foods that previous generations grew up on. “LET FOOD BE thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” said the ancient Greek
Farmers should be valued for what they produce, not for what they buy. With the Ploughing Championships taking place this week in Tullamore, Co Offaly, we’re going to hear a
The laws on hedgerow destruction need to be much stricter. It’s tough being a hedge in Ireland, unless it is lucky enough to be owned and managed by someone who
It’s an uphill battle if people do not feel you are on their side. The green movement has some soul searching to do. It’s an uphill battle if people do
Rosalynn Carter, the wife of recently deceased former US President Jimmy Carter, said “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they [don’t
Shorter supply chains support Irish producers. Today, in my role as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I am delighted to announce the successful
I am an ordinary sort of person. I get on with life: working, cooking, cleaning, gardening, farming, and raising my family. I also like horses, running, and spending time outdoors
Loneliness is a hidden, but very real, problem in rural Ireland, and the Greens are ready to tackle this head on. Research shows that loneliness and social isolation is leading
Ahead of the general election vote on Friday, Clare Green Party candidate, and Deputy Leader, Senator Róisín Garvey along with Offaly candidate Minister Pippa Hackett unveiled the Green Party’s policy
Today, I announced a fund of €17.5 million available for open call for European Innovation Partnership projects under the general theme of Environmental Sustainability. We want to see innovative proposals
I am delighted to announce €8.9m under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) towards the new Edenderry Pool project. Through close engagement with my Party colleague Catherine Martin, T.D. , Ireland’s
This week, together with Government colleagues, I announced two awards of €5 million each from the first of two Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Calls, as part of the EU Just Transition
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Published on 2 October 2024 Last updated on 2 October 2024 With Ministers McConalogue and Heydon at the Budget 2025 DAFM Press
At a Social Farming Ireland Open Day on Donohue’s Fearnóg Farm near Mountrath, Co Laois, July 2023. This morning, as part of Budget 2025, I was delighted to announce additional
Vielen Dank, Botschafter Collins. Hallo zusammen. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut, also haben Sie bitte etwas Geduld mit mir und Google Translate! Ich freue mich, heute Nachmittag mit Bord
A significant number of people will be eligible to take advantage of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability thanks to a decision at cabinet today,
A record allocation of €250 million nationally in the latest round of Sports Capital Grant allocations meant that 48 Offaly sporting clubs and organisations are the recipients of good news,
It was an honour to address the very first National Youth Food Summit organised by the National Youth Food Forum at Airfield Estate in Dublin. Our food systems face huge challenges.
The endangered Hen Harrier, an iconic bird of prey traditionally found in the Slieve Bloom Nature Reserve, will be the first threatened species to benefit from the signing of a
Today, 18th September 2024, together with my colleague Minister Charlie McConalogue, we launched the National Organic Strategy 2024 – 2030. With Emmet Doyle, Organic Sector Manager Bord Bía, Pádraig Brennan,
On Friday last, I launched the €4.15m ReSHAPE project (Regional Skills Horizon and Pathways to Employment) in Technological Universiry of the Shannon, Athlone. Supported by the EU Just Transition Fund,
Minister Hackett announces Call for proposals to optimise short food supply chains From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Published on 9 September 2024 Minister of State at the
Pictured at the launch of National Hedgerow Week at the Farmland Biodiversity Event in Birr Castle are from left to right: Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc; Dr
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Published on 20 August 2024 Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
I’m encouraging female entrepreneurs around Offaly and the wider Midlands to consider participating in the latest iteration of the ACORNS initiative, a free business development programme that will run for
My address to the committee on Forestry and World Forest which ran from July 22 to July 26. FAO headquarters, Rome. “Deputy Director-General Semado, Minister Totschnig, Distinguished Delegates & Guests,
My opening address, delivered to the Leadership Hustings of the Young Greens, online, Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Good evening everyone, and thanks so much for organising this special Young Greens
My opening address to Green Party members at the second hustings, online, 30/06/24 Out of Touch, Preachy, Judgemental, Dublin Centric, Disconnected. These are some of the words that I have
Green Party Leadership Hustings 27/06/2024, Samual Beckett Theatre Good evening Green Party members, to those of you here in the Beckett Theatre in Dublin, and to those watching at home
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the wonderful crowd we have at convention this year, and to thank all of those who have worked tirelessly to get it all put
With Kevin Maher, Orlaith Tynan and Pat Dillon at the Dairy 4.0 Summit It’s great to be here in Portlaoise today to discuss the future of the Irish dairy industry.
I am asking you to vote for me, Pippa Hackett, as Leader of the Green Party. My vision for the Party is not complex. I believe that we must be
For most Offaly people, the headline news arising out of yesterday’s announcement of over €32 million in investment grants under Fáilte Ireland’s EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme
I am honoured to put my name forward for leadership of the Green Party. I joined the party because I believe passionately in our long term, big picture world view.
The Greens are fulfilling promises to improve public transport, and the proposed new rail timetable on the Heuston/Galway/Heuston route delivers up to seven fantastic additional services ( see below )
My speech to open the conference, 25.05.24: Good morning everyone. It’s great to be here in Athlone, in the heart of the Midlands to mark the end of the Connecting
Today, together with my Ministerial Colleagues, Charlie McConalogue and Malcolm Noonan, I was delighted to launch a landmark new project for Ireland’s most vulnerable group of birds, breeding waders, at
Following a very interesting event in the Birr Castle Visitor Centre to mark the start of National Biodiversity Week 2024, I am compiling some of the sources of information that
I am encouraging small and medium-sized businesses across Offaly to make sure they don’t miss out on a broad suite of cost-reducing measures that were launched this afternoon. The package
The Community Library and Arts Base in Edenderry has been awarded €12.2M as part of the regeneration of the town centre. We all remember the derelict Tesco site in the
I am delighted news that sports clubs in Offaly have benefited from over €450,000 in funding for equipment in the latest round of grants from the Sports Capital and Equipment
In celebration of National Biodiversity Week 2024, I am delighted to invite you to ‘Dark Skies of Offaly’, on the evening of Friday 17th May. This event will focus on
2024 Conference Speech I am very pleased to welcome you today to the Gibson Hotel in Dublin to celebrate the third ever International Day of Plant Health. The theme of
I can’t think of a better way to mark the beginning of May than taking a “Growing Organics” dairy farm walk in lovely Laois. It was my privilege to open
Today I received Government approval for an Action Plan to provide additional supports for Farmers impacted by Ash Dieback Disease. I said I’d deliver on Ash, and I have. This
Image from ESB Archives Following the public meeting in Shannonbridge on 24th April, it is clear that there are some serious concerns among the community in relation to the operation
The Government has today launched a new low-cost Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme. The €500 million Scheme is the first of its kind for both Ireland and the European Investment
Today, I was delighted to deliver the key note speech at the IAIA Conference in the Convention Centre. You can read my speech below; Good afternoon everyone, and thank you
Today’s announcement of €560,000 additional LIS allocation to upgrade rural laneways shows this Government’s commitment to rural Ireland. This year Offaly will receive €1,264,386 for the repairs and improvement
Minister Hackett’s speech CIEEM Conference 2024 The Age of Ecology Good morning everyone, and thank you to the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) for the invitation to
Today, I welcomed Government approval of the Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan, which states that a minimum of 10% of food purchased via public procurement must be certified
I’m delighted to see that €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects nationwide to support the integration of migrants. Grants of up to €5,000 will be allocated to
Press release From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Published on 20 March 2024 Last updated on 20 March 2024 Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at
The Community Recognition Fund 2024 will be allocated based on the numbers of people who have arrived from Ukraine and other countries in each local authority area. Offaly is to
The preservation of Ireland’s built heritage received a significant boost today with the announcement of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Built Heritage and Historic
As part of the St Patrick’s Day programme for 2024, I have the privilege of travelling to Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to promote Ireland, and Irish interests and values.
GLAS payments will issue ahead of schedule to 36,500 farmers My colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, announced today that the 2022 Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme
